Tanzania will not be replaced as AFCON 2027 c0-host, says Motsepe

CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe says Tanzania will not be replaced as one of the hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations despite concerns over the country's preparations for the tournament.

Tanzania will co-host the competition with Kenya and Uganda in what will be the first three-nation hosting arrangement in AFCON history.

There have been questions over whether some of the infrastructure required for the tournament will be completed on time.

Motsepe said he had previously been advised that Tanzania might struggle to meet the necessary requirements, with suggestions that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) should consider alternative plans.

But the CAF president dismissed the possibility of changing the hosting arrangement.

“From CAF’s perspective and personally, there is never going to be Plan B or Plan C, and never will there be Plan B or Plan C,” Motsepe told reporters on Thursday after visiting Tanzania.

The South African administrator also urged caution over reports about Tanzania's readiness, saying some information circulating in the media was inaccurate.

He acknowledged that work needed to be accelerated in certain areas but said CAF would continue working closely with the Tanzanian authorities and other stakeholders.

“We have to work together with Tanzania to make sure that whatever areas need to be accelerated, we accelerate them and make sure that we are ready for a successful AFCON,” he said.

Motsepe said he had received detailed reports on the state of preparations and remained confident that Tanzania would meet the requirements to host the tournament.

CAF has deployed a 21-member expert delegation across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to monitor preparations, with some members permanently based in each of the three host countries.

The delegation is assessing stadiums, training facilities, pitches and other infrastructure required for the tournament.

Motsepe said the successful staging of AFCON 2027 would depend on close cooperation between CAF, the three governments, national football associations and the local organising committees.

He is scheduled to return to Tanzania in January 2027 for a final assessment of the country's preparations.

The 2027 AFCON is scheduled to take place from 19 June to 17 July and will be the first edition of the tournament jointly hosted by three countries.